Complex 3-D behaviors of composite cylinders with 3-D shape memory alloy actuators

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are often used in smart materials and structures as the active components. Their ability to provide a high force and large displacement has been useful in many applications, including devices for damage control, active structural acoustic control, dynamic tuning, and shape control. In this paper, the radial displacement control of an externally pressurized elliptic composite cylinder where the SMA strip actuators are bonded on its in and outer surface is investigated numerically. The elliptic composite cylinder with SMAs was designed and analyzed to determine the feasibility of such a system for the removal of stiffeners from externally pressurized stiffened composite stuctures. SMAs start to transform from the martensitic into the austenitic state upon actuation through resistive heating, simultaneously recover the prestrain, and thus cause the composite cylinder to expand in the radial direction. The externally pressurized composite cylinder with the SMA actuators was analyzed using the 3-D finite element method.